By Min Ni Kyaw - Apr 30, 2025
Workers at Myanmar Huasheng Kefu Fashion garment factory say the factory is not paying the wages initially promised at the time of recruitment. The factory manufactures brands like Sinsay and TRN and reportedly employs over 600 workers.
“They tell us a specific wage when recruiting, but they don’t keep their promise when it comes time to pay. It’s also not based on skill level. Day laborers are not appointed as permanent staff. When three months are nearly up, they are let go. They are simply dismissed if there’s no more work,” said one factory worker.
Numerous underage workers, aged 14 and 15, are employed without any medical certification, and are assigned regular duties by the employer. Additionally, workers expressed concern over safety, as emergency exits are kept locked during working hours.
“All the emergency exits are locked during work. Walkways are blocked by fabric boxes and tables, so we wouldn’t be able to escape if there were an emergency. It was the same during the last earthquake—we couldn’t get out,” said one female worker.
Workers also face discrimination in leave and grading, and are pressured with excessive production targets. In addition to unfair pay cuts, they do not receive proper holiday allowances as mandated by law.
“Not everyone gets leave. Only those close to the supervisors are granted leave. Most don’t get it. Those who take leave are marked absent and they deduct 10,000 kyats from the daily wages and subsidies and 40,000 from attendance bonus. But those deductions aren’t compensated during holidays. They demand 40 garments per hour and won’t even let us drink water or go to the toilet. They ask for more if we meet the target. In one sewing line, only two workers are rated A+, and five are rated A—only those who get along with supervisors. Those rated D get nothing,” another worker said.
Most of the sewing workers are graded D. Due to overcrowding on company ferries, some female workers are forced to share rides with others in tight conditions, workers said.
Myanmar Huasheng Kefu Fashion Co., Ltd is a Chinese-owned garment factory located on Myakhatta Road, Mya Sein Young Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar Township, Yangon.
